Alstead one of six homeless Wolves

Warrington have initiated a major clear out for next season by releasing six players, five of whom appeared in the first team this year. The six, who are all out of contract, include David Alstead and the Papua New Guinean international Tom O'Reilly, both of whom ended the season as regulars in Super League. John Hill, Leon Felton and Steve Maden also played in the first team, while the Wolves have let the young reserve, Craig Johnston, leave the club.

Hull expect to announce a new signing shortly, but have denied it is Henry Paul, the former Wigan and Bradford stand-off now playing rugby union for Gloucester. Similarly, Widnes have denied that they are to release their Australian loose forward Daniel Frame.

Featherstone's captain and hooker, Richard Chapman, has given them an early boost for next year's campaign in the new National League One by signing for another three years.

The season for National Leagues One and Two is to start on 19 January, with the Buddies National Cup, interspersed with the early rounds of the TXU-Energi Challenge Cup. League fixtures will start on Good Friday, on 18 April.

The Rugby League has underlined its confidence in the system of referring difficult decisions to a video referee, despite complaints from both coaches, Stuart Raper of Wigan and Castleford's Graham Steadman, after their play-off match on Saturday night.

"We believe the system is working well," said the RFL's spokesman, John Huxley. "It is true that a memo was sent out last week saying that, in the case of the video referee being unable to make a ruling, the benefit of the doubt should be given to the attacking side, but that situation never arose."

The League is still looking into the "hidden ball" episode from which Hull's Lee Jackson scored a try in the other play-off at Leeds on Friday.